'I doubt I'll run for office again, I said that very clearly,' John Kerry tells crowd at Edward Kennedy Institute

Posted Dec 7, 2018

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry participates in a forum at the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne / Associated Press)

Former presidential candidate and diplomat John Kerry voiced doubts that he would ever mount another White House run, wistfully remembered searching out Friendly's restaurants while on the Massachusetts campaign trail, and said he still considers himself an "activist."

Kerry, who unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic nominee against Republican President George W. Bush in 2004, spoke Thursday night at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Dorchester. The talk was moderated by WGBH contributor David Bernstein.

Asked by an audience member if he will be involved in 2020, Kerry said, "Well, I'm certainly going to do my part as a citizen."

He then added: "Is that a 2020 question that's subtly being put to me?"

The crowd, gathered in a replica of the US Senate chamber, laughed.

"I think I said very, very clearly, and I mean this, I said a few months ago that I don't have any plans to run for office," said Kerry, who on Dec. 11 turns 75.

Kerry's comments came the same day former Gov. Deval Patrick said he would not be among the candidates seeking to take on President Donald Trump.

"I doubt I'll run for office again, I said that very clearly," Kerry continued. "I once responded to a question by saying... I haven't taken it off the table which is very, very different from actively working, pursuing, which I am not doing. And I mean that."